INEC, ECONEC Adopt AI Guidelines to Strengthen Electoral Integrity Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) have adopted guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electoral processes to strengthen electoral integrity and promote credible elections across West Africa.
The guidelines were validated at a two-day meeting in Nigeria attended by electoral officials and information technology experts from across the West African sub-region, following the establishment of a working group at an ECONEC symposium held in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2025.
Speaking during a visit by the ECONEC delegation to INEC, the organisation’s Permanent Secretary and Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division, Serigne Ka, said the guidelines were developed to address the growing influence of AI in election administration and establish a common regional framework for its responsible application.
“AI is here to stay. There is no way we can do away with AI anymore,” Ka said, emphasising the need for electoral commissions to determine how best to manage and deploy the technology within their respective electoral systems.
He explained that the working group held several sessions to develop a draft document, which was subsequently subjected to validation before its adoption.
Ka added that the next phase would focus on implementing the guidelines across the sub-region, with member commissions expected to exchange practical experiences and develop approaches suited to their electoral environments.
He also commended INEC for hosting the delegation, noting that Nigeria’s experience and ongoing work on AI provided opportunities for knowledge-sharing and regional collaboration.
In his remarks, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, stressed the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening electoral institutions and promoting credible elections, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan said electoral commissions across West Africa faced common legal, institutional, political and operational challenges, including electoral technology, results management, voter education, electoral security and dispute resolution.
He described ECONEC as an important platform for electoral management bodies to share experiences, address common challenges and develop practical solutions to improve democratic governance.
“No electoral commission has a monopoly on knowledge or experience. We all have valuable lessons to share and much to learn from one another,” he said.
The INEC chairman noted that preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 General Election required institutional readiness, legal certainty, transparency and effective coordination among electoral stakeholders.
He said the commission was working to ensure an accurate and reliable voters’ register, timely procurement and testing of electoral materials and technology, and the training of competent and impartial electoral personnel.
According to him, INEC is also strengthening engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies and other stakeholders to address concerns promptly and promote transparent communication.
Amupitan further emphasised the need to intensify voter and civic education to improve public understanding of electoral procedures, encourage peaceful participation and promote the lawful resolution of electoral grievances.
Reflecting on regional experiences, he cited INEC’s participation in the ECONEC Post-Election Follow-up and Needs Assessment Mission to Sierra Leone from September 19 to 26, 2026.
He said the mission highlighted the relationship between electoral reforms and political trust, noting that concerns remained over the implementation of agreed recommendations and relations between the Sierra Leonean government and the main opposition party ahead of the country’s 2028 General Elections.
The mission also examined a constitutional question concerning the interpretation of the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments in Sierra Leone. The matter had been referred to the country’s Supreme Court, and the mission refrained from taking a position.
Amupitan said the development underscored the importance of constitutional certainty, respect for judicial independence and the timely resolution of legal questions affecting electoral reforms.
He called on ECONEC member commissions to deepen cooperation in electoral technology, results transmission, records management, election logistics, risk assessment, personnel training and preventive regulation of political parties to improve compliance and reduce disputes.
The INEC chairman also urged stronger regional collaboration on voter education, responsible media engagement, combating misinformation, electoral security and inclusive participation, particularly for vulnerable groups.
He further advocated institutionalising post-election reviews and follow-up missions to ensure that recommendations receive priority attention, implementation is monitored and technical assistance is aligned with identified needs.
The adoption of the AI guidelines marks a step towards developing a coordinated regional approach to the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies present for election management and democratic governance in West Africa.
